Aster plant named ‘Victoria Xenian’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Aster  plant named ‘Victoria Xenian’, characterized by its compact, uniform, upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; uniform and freely flowering habit; and decorative-type inflorescences with light red purple-colored ray florets.

Botanical designation: Aster novi-belgii.

Cultivar denomination: ‘VICTORIA XENIAN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Asterplant, botanically known as Aster novi-belgii and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Victoria Xenian’.

The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact andfast-growing Aster plants with uniform and rounded plant growth habit,freely branching habit and attractive floret colors.

The new Aster originated from an open-pollination in March, 2008 inAarslev, Denmark of Aster novi-belgii ‘Victoria Mathilde’, disclosed inU.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,930, as the female, or seed, parent with anunknown Aster novi-belgii seedling selection, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Aster plant was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedopen-pollination in a controlled environment in Aarslev, Denmark inApril, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Aster plant by vegetative tip cuttingswas first conducted in Aarslev, Denmark in September, 2009. Asexualreproduction by cuttings has shown that the unique features of this newAster plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Aster have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such astemperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Victoria Xenian’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Victoria Xenian’ as a newand distinct Aster plant:

-   -   1. Compact, uniform, upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit.    -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Decorative-type inflorescences with light red purple-colored        ray florets.

Plants of the new Aster differ from plants of the female parent,‘Victoria Mathilde’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Aster are broader than leaves of        plants of ‘Victoria Mathilde’.    -   2. Plants of the new Aster flower about eight to ten days        earlier than plants of ‘Victoria Mathilde’.    -   3. Plants of the new Aster have larger inflorescences than        plants of ‘Victoria Mathilde’.    -   4. Ray florets of plants of the new Aster flower are lighter in        color than ray florets of plants of ‘Victoria Mathilde’.

Plants of the new Aster can be compared to plants of Aster novi-belgii‘Victoria Pink Fanny’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Aarslev, Denmark, plants of the new Aster differed fromplants of ‘Victoria Pink Fanny’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aster were more upright than plants of        ‘Victoria Pink Fanny’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Aster were broader than leaves of        plants of ‘Victoria Pink Fanny’.    -   3. Plants of the new Aster flowered about three to four days        earlier than plants of ‘Victoria Pink Fanny’.    -   4. Ray florets of plants of the new Aster were lighter in color        than ray florets of plants of ‘Victoria Pink Fanny’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Aster plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Aster plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Victoria Xenian’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises close-up views of the upper(top of the photograph) and lower surfaces (bottom of the photograph) oftypical inflorescences and leaves of ‘Victoria Xenian’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the late summer in 10.5-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Marslev, Denmark underenvironmental conditions and cultural practices which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial container Aster production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 20° C.and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 19° C. Plants were pinchedone time and were twelve weeks old when the photographs and descriptionwere taken. In the following description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Aster novi-belgii ‘Victoria Xenian’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Aster novi-belgii ‘Victoria            Mathilde’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,930.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown Aster novi-belgii seedling            selection, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About eight to ten days at            temperatures of about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten days at            temperatures of about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve            days at temperatures of about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About two            weeks at temperatures of about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous decorative-type potted Aster; compact            and upright with lateral branches somewhat outwardly            spreading; narrow inverted triangle with mounded crown;            strong and freely branching growth habit with about seven            primary lateral branches each with numerous secondary            branches; low vigor to moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 21.1 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 12.6 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 10.8 cm. Diameter: About            2 mm. Internode length: About 1.1 cm. Angle: Lateral stems            are positioned about 25° from the main stem. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 137B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 4.1 cm.        -   Width.—About 9 mm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly oblong to narrowly oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute to narrowly acute.        -   Base.—Cordate, decurrent.        -   Margin.—Entire, occasionally with one or two small teeth            along the margins.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            leathery.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B to            137C. Developing leaves, lower surface: Between 137D and            138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B;            venation, close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 147B; venation, 146A to 146B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with narrowly            oblanceolate-shaped ray florets; inflorescences borne on            terminal and axillary branches above and beyond the foliar            plane; ray and disc florets arranged acropetally on a            capitulum.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plants flower            during from mid-summer into the autumn in Denmark; response            time, about six weeks.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good            substance for about two weeks on the plant; inflorescences            persistent.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit with            about 28 inflorescences developing per plant.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About            1.5 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate to globular. Color: Close to            137B; towards the apex, close to 70A to 70B.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 3.7 cm. Depth (height):            About 2.1 cm. Diameter of disc: Disc florets have not been            observed on plants of the new Aster. Receptacle height:            About 3 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 3 mm. Receptacle            color: Close to 144D.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:            Narrowly oblanceolate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            slightly longitudinally ribbed. Orientation: Initially            upright, then about 45° from vertical to perpendicular to            peduncle. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About 150            arranged in numerous whorls. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Close to 77B. When opening, lower surface: Close to            77C to 77D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 77C;            towards the base, close to N74C; color becoming closer to            77C with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to            77D; color becoming closer to 76C with development.        -   Phyllaries.—Number of phyllaries per inflorescence: About 80            arranged in about four whorls. Length: About 7 mm. Width:            About 2 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acute. Base:            Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            N137D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.2 cm to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About            1.5 mm. Angle: Upright to about 20° from vertical. Strength:            Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            137C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Not observed on plants of            the new Aster. Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 2 mm. Stigma            shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to 150D. Style length:            About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 157A to 157D. Ovary color:            Close to 145D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Aster.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Aster have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Aster    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Aster have been observed to be    tolerant to rain, wind and high temperatures of about 35° C., and to    be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 8.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Aster plant named ‘Victoria Xenian’as illustrated and described.